How to use an Xbox One Controller on Windows, OS X, and Linux

The Xbox One Controller is a awesome gamepad. And although Microsoft has recently started providing the drivers in Windows 10. There are drivers now available for Windows 7 and 8 on their website. Mac users do not have an official driver. But there is a small open source solution that works well.

How to use an Xbox One Controller on Windows, OS X, and Linux.

For all operating systems, the controller will connect via USB cable, not wireless. but Microsoft publishes later this fall adapter.

Windows Drivers

Windows provides Download Drivers on their support page. Make sure you download the correct version (32-bit or 64-bit) for your architecture. After installation, your controller should work properly when plugged in. But it can still be synchronized with the console. In this case… simply turn the console and controller off, connect the controller and turn the controller on. If you want to use the controller on your Xbox again, you’ll have to do the same process to synchronize with the console.

You can check if the controller works in the Devices panel in the settings under “Connected devices.” It must simply show “Controller”. Alternatively, the home button on the controller will be lit and not flashing.

Mac Drivers

The Mac driver package called Xone OS X, is created by FranticRain on Github. The source code is available. but for those who want an easy to install package, see press releases. There is a disk image with an installation package that will automatically install the drivers and the System Preferences panel to go with it. The controller will register in most Steam games as an input device. And can be configured in-game settings. But for those looking to use the controller outside the game or map specific keys to buttons, there is a freeware application. Enjoyable, which works incredibly well. You can even map the buttons and joystick trigger to control the mouse. which works very well with games like Minecraft or shooting in the first person. Note that your controller will be displayed in some menus, including Enjoyable as controller Xbox 360. There is no real difference both internally as gamepads have the same layout.

Linux Drivers

Surprisingly, other than Windows 10, Linux is the only operating system in the list to include native support for Xbox One Controller. If your distro running a version of the kernel past 3.17. You are good to go. Remember that Steam OS also supports the Xbox One Controller smoothly.